Air-tank heater for air-brake systems



May 27, 1924. I 1,495,419

W. F. LEVISON AIR TANK HEATER FOR AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS Filed Nov. 24. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. WM 6 W A TTORNEY.

May 27 1924.-

W. F. LEVISON AIR TANK HEATER FOR AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 24, 1923 LVLENTOR. mi 56W B Y a 6 ATTORNEY.

Patented May 27, 19 24.

WILLIAM F. LEVISON, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

AIR-TANK HEATER FOR AIRFBRAKE SYSTEMS.

Application filed November'24, 1923. Serial No. 676,766.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, l/VILLIAM F. LEVISON, citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air-Tank Heaters for Air-Brake Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an air tank heater having for an object to provide means for eliminating the freezing of condensation in and at the pipe connections for an air tank or reservoir of an air-brake system.

Another object is to provide a device of this character in which is included means for permitting the heating to be accomplished either by the use of electricity or a suitable heating fluid, or both in combination.

A further object is to provide a device of this character including a casing for an air tank and a separable heating unit so relatively arranged as to induce heat into the said casing. I

It is likewise an object to provide a heating unit attachable to a pipe connection of an air tank of this character, this unit including a pair of spaced chambers between which the pipe connection is arranged and in which is receivable electric heating elements.

A still further object is to provide a heating unit attachable to a pipe connection of an air tank of this nature, said unit includ ing a pair of spaced chambers, one of which is adapted to receive an electric heating element while the other is constructed to receive a heating fluid such as steam, this structure providing a heater which may be used upon steam or electric cars with equal facility.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part ointed out hereinafter.

In order that the invention and its mode of operation may be readily understood by persons skilled in the art, I have in the accompanying illustrative drawings, and in the following detailed description 7 based thereon set out one possible embodiment of the same.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation illustrating the application of my heater to an air tank of an air-brake system;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a View taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1; j

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the heating unit;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substan tially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of a removable heating element employed in either or both of the chambers;'and

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of the chamber adapted to receive steam or other heating fluids.

It is quite well known that in the ordi-' nary air-brake system employed upon steam and electric trains, the air condenses at certain points, particularly at the pipe connections to the air tank or reservoir and in cold weather this condensation freezes with the' resultthat the air-brakes will not function properly if at all. The usual means for remedying this fault is to heat this connection by torches or the like and it is readily appreciated that there is no small amount of time and trouble involved in this method. With the use of a heater as herein set forth the air will always be retained'at a temperature at which freezing is impossible and will result in the proper functioning ofv the brakes at all times.

Having more particular reference to the drawings throughout which similar characters of reference designate similar parts,

this airtank heater may be broadly stated as comprising a removable casing for enclosing an air tank or reservoir of an an brake system and having mounted thereon a separable heating unit which may employ either electricity or steam as a heating element; this heating unit being so placed as to heat a pipe connection tothe air tank as well as the adjoining portions of an air tank body itself. a 4

This casing 8 which encloses the air tank or reservoir preferably is made up of two sections held in proper relative position by means of longitudinally spaced semi-circular bands 9 which are hinged together as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 and are adapted to retain the casing upon the tank through the proper setting of the screws 10 carried by one section of each band. The inner face of this casing 8 is provided with a heat retaining packing 'or lining 11 which contacts with the tank surface and functions in a manner which will be hereinafter apparent. The usual air tank or reservoir is provided with inlet and outlet pipe connections at certain points and at relative points the easing will be provided with openings through which these pipe connections may pass. While this heating unit may be attached to any one or all of the pipe connections, I have for the purposes of this application shown it applied to a drain pipe connection as 15 apparent in Figs l and'2, the open1ng 12 in the packing 11 and the tank caslng through which the drain pipe connection passes being of considerably greater area than the diameter of the pipe, the reasons for which will be hereinafter brought out.

The casing just described provides means when combined with the packing 11, upon induction of heat thereinto, for maintaining a temperature within the tank to such a de gree as to prevent freezing of the condensed air. The heating unit I employ to induce heat into the tank comprises a main casing 13 having a centrally disposed, sleeve 14 which snugly fits over the drain pipe or other pipe connections as illustrated. This sleeve is provided with cored walls in which a heat retaining packing 15 is arranged. This sleevel l and the main casing 13 are so relatively formed as to provide diametrically oppositely disposed chambers 16 and 17. each of which may house a substantially U-shaped electric heating element 18 as shown in Figure 4, these, heating elements being readily removable when desired. The wall of the main casing, as clearly shown in Figures 4: and 5 is cored out to provide packing recesses 19 wherein is arranged a heat retaining packing in the same manner as that just set forth for the central sleeve.

Each of these chambers 16 and 1.7 is pro 'vided in its lower end with-an opening 20 which serves to permit entry of electricity conductors 21 to the electric heating elements .18 or when desired, as an outlet for a heating fluid.

This heating unit is provided with a curved or concave upper end which conforms to the curvature of the air tank or reservoir and is so relatively arranged with respect to the casing that communication between chambers 16 and the opening 12 around the drain pipe connection is provi ded. This arrangement provides for heating of the portion of the tank adjoining the pipe connection and gradual heating of the entire packing 11 within the casing, in addition to the heating of the drain pipe connection itself. The heating unit is adapted to be retained in position upon the drain pipe or other pipe connection by means of the usual fixture arranged upon the end of the pipe, this fixture in this drain pipe connection being shown in the form of an annular shoulder. It is of course understood that other means may be employed to ac complish the same result.

l ihere it is desired to employ steam as a heating element the chamber 17 is used without the electric heating element 18 and is provided with steam through pipe connections 22 as shown in Figure '7. In this application of the heater there is provided a bafiie plate 23 which is so arranged within the chamber 17 as to deflect the incoming steam or other heating fluid upwardly in order to force it to contact with the sleeve 14; along its entire surface before leaving the heating chamber, as shown in Figure 7. The outlet or return pipe from the steam chamber 17 is provided with a drain valve for obvious reasons.

Manifestly the construction shown is capable of considerable modification and such modification is may fall within the scope of my claims I consider within the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a casing for an air tank anda heater mounted upon the tank and arranged todirect heat into the casing.

2. A device of the character described comprising a. casing for an air tank in an air brake system, a heat retaining packing arranged between the tank and its casing. and a heater mounted upon the tank and arranged to direct heat to the packing and pipe connection of the tank.

3.1K device of the character described comprising a two-part hinged casing for an ail tank in an air-brake system, heat retaining packing carried upon the inner face of the casing, and a separable heating unit mounted upon the casing.

4. A device of the character described comprising a heating unit attachable to a pipe connection of an air tank in an airbrake system said heating unit being arranged upon the connection at the inner end.

5. A device of the character described comprising a heating unit attachable to a pipe connection of an air tank in an airbrake system, and including a casing enclosing the pipe connection at a point adjacent the tank, and means for heating the interior of the casing whereby to transmit heat to the pipe connection and the adjacent portions of the tank.

6. A device of the class described comprising a heatingunit attachable toa pipe connection of an air tank in an air-brake system. said unit being mounted adjacent the tank and including a casing surrounding the pipe, independent chambers in said cas ing and means for independently and for simultaneously heating the chambers, Whereby the pipe and adjacent portion of the tank will be heated.

7. A device of the character described comprising a heating unit attachable to a pipe connection of an air tank in an air brake system, said unit being mounted adjacent the tank and including a casing surrounding the pipe, a pair of independent chambers included in the casing, electric heating elements in one of the chambers and means to permit circulation of a heating fluid in the other chambers.

8. A device of the class described comprising a heating unit attachable to a pipe connection of an air tank in an air-brake system, said unit including a casing surrounding the pipe adjacent the tank, a central sleeve snugly receiving the pipe, a pair of opposed chambers formed in the casing and means in the chambers whereby to heat the pipe and the adjacent portions of the tank.

9. A device of the class described comprising a heating unit attachable to a pipe connection of an air tank in an air-brake system, said unit including a casing surrounding the pipe adjacent the tank, a central sleeve snugly receiving the pipe, a pair of opposed chambers formed in the casing, an electric heating element in one chamber and means for supplying a heating fluid to the other chamber whereby to heat the pipe and the adjoining tank portions.

10. A device of the class described comprising a heating unit attachable to a pipe connection of an air tank in an air-brake system, said unit including a casing surrounding the pipe adjacent the tank, a central sleeve snugly receiving the pi e, a pair of opposed chambers formed in t e casing,

casing and packing having a pair of alined I openings whereby to permit positioning a pipe connection therein, said opening being materially larger than the pipe diameter, anda heating unit surrounding the pipe connection and covering said opening, and having means to provide direct communication with the openings whereby to heat adjacent portions of the tank, the packing and said pipe.

12. A casing for an air tank in an airbrake system said casing having an opening in one wall through which a tank pipe connection passes, a heating unit including a casing surrounding the inner portion of the pipe connection, said unit having a pair of chambers directly communicating with the casing opening, and means for heating the chambers.

13. A casing for an air tank in an air brake system, said casing having an opening in one wall through which a tank pipe connection passes, a heating unit including a casing surrounding the inner portion of the pipe connection, said unit having a pair of chambers directly communicating with the casing opening, an electric heating element in one chamber and means for supplying heating fluid to the other chamber.

In testimony whereof I afiix m si nature.

, WILLIAM F. LIt'vfsoN. 

